Sinn Fein has raised serious concerns over the provision of social homes in Northern Ireland.

Housing Spokesperson, Carál Ní Chuilín, called on the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to do more to address housing inequalities and increasing the supply of housing.

She said: "Sinn Féin is extremely concerned that this amounts to the privatisation of statutory responsibilities to provide social housing.

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"Further to this the role of the Housing Executive and the Department in protecting frontline services from the continuation of Tory cuts and austerity is essential.

"We received reassurances that the Supporting People Programme, which looks after vulnerable people, should be protected but no such assurances were given on protection for Neighbourhood Renewal schemes.

"Cutting front line services in deprived communities is unacceptable and these proposals should be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

"Sinn Féin left the Department and Housing Executive in no doubt that these issues, unless addressed, would face legal challenges for failing to implement Section 75 responsibilities and Sinn Féin will be supporting anyone bringing such challenges."

(CD/LM)